Tire chain holder



Aug- 26, 1952 H. B. HUGHES 2,608,234

' TIRE: CHAIN HOLDER Filed March 6, 1951 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 TIRECHAIN HOLDER Henry B. Hughes, Kingsport, Application March t,1951,seriaiNo. 214,118"

This invention relates to improvements in av combination tire chain andholder for the chain;

An object of this invention is to provide animproved anti-skid devicewhich includes a tire chain and a pair of plates, one plate beingsecured to one end of the chain and the other plate being secured to theopposite end of the chain, at least` one of said plates being of springmaterial, for example spring steel, in order that it may be snapped onthe other plate, holding the other plate in nested relation therewith tofacilitate the attachment of an anti-skid chain on the tire of avehicle.

It isy another object of this invention to provide several additionalchain links at Vthe point of attachment between the main chain and oneof the clamp plates so as to supply adjustment possibilities in thedevice to compensate for various diameter tires.

' Another object of the invention is lto supply an additional lockingmeans for the two plates, said locking means including tongues and.grooves to prevent relative sliding movement of one plat/e and theother, at least one of the tongues rising from the outer surface of loneof the plates so as to constitute a traction element in addition to thecrossed chains of the anti-skid chain. 1

Ancillary objects and features rof importance will become apparent infollowing the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view of a standard wheel and tirehaving a part of the assembly located thereon;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a vehicle having the chain devicepartially connected therewith; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the .clamping plates.

In the drawings there is illustrated a fragmentary part of a wheel I8and a fragmentary part of a standard tire I2 disposed on the wheel. Asis usual, the anti-skid device is applied to the rear wheels of avehicle, whether it is a truck, automobile, bus or the like. Theanti-skid device comprises a chain I6 which includes side chain membersi8 and 26 connected together by means of cross links 22, the cross linksbeing located at spaced intervals on the side members I8 and 20.

The holder for the chain I6 comprises a first plate 24 and a secondplate 26, both plates being substantially U-shaped in cross section. Thefirst 5 claims. (01.1'524'2415 t Y plate is adapted to rest uponthetread and side walls of a tireand is preferably of a spring material,as spring steel, so that it frictionally clamps upon the side walls andtread of the tire. The second plate is of the same configuration as thefirst plate 24 but is slightly larger in order that it may iit Vover therst plate 24. The material of the second plate is the same as thematerial of the rst plate 24. p

One end of the chain I6 isfastened to the lower iirst plate 24, therebeing two brackets 28 fastenedto the outer surface of the clamp plate 24near one side edge thereof and links of the side members .I8 and 28being carried by the brackets 1 28. .The opposite end ofthe chain I6 isprovided with standard spring loaded fasteners 38 and.32

which are removably connected with any one ofh the series 36 and theseries 38 of connected links. The series 36 and the series 38 ofconnected links are fastened to the brackets 48 which are xed to theouter surface of the outer plate 26 near the ends thereof and near oneside edge of it so that the fastening members 30 and 32 may be used inany ofthe plurality of links 36 and 38. By proper selection of the linksin the series 36 and 38 the size of the' chain-36 maybe varied in orderto be used'with various size tires.

In operation .the outer plate 26 is snapped ontheinner plate 28 bypushing the open end of the outer plate over the portion of the innerplate 24 which overlies the tread of the tire. The ends 42 and144 of theinner plate 28 are flared out# Wardly slightly and the ends 46 and 48 ofthe outer 4plate arealso flared outwardly slightly in vorder to serve aguiding function as they are cammed over the sides of the first plate24.

The lower plate 24 is rst engaged with the tire and then the vehicle ismoved causing rotation of the rear Wheels thereof. This winds the chainI6 around the tire. The fastening elements 30 and 32 are then connectedto the links of the series 36 and 38 and the second plate is pressed onthe first plate. Alternatively, the second plate 26 may first ybefastened to the outer-surface of u the lower plate 24 and then thefastening elegrooves in the plates which are adapted to interf fit. Theplate 24 has a pair of longitudinal ribs 'access/i 3 50 and 52 extendinglongitudinally thereof, across the outer end of the holder 24 andpartially down the sides of the plate. These ribs, constituting tongues,rise outwardly from the outer surface of the holder 24 and are adaptedto fit in grooves which are formed in the material of the plate 26.These grooves are made by depressing the material of the outer plate 26so as to provide external tongues, the external tongues forming tractionelements as do the crossed links 22 of the chain I5. In order to insurethat there will be no accidental separation of the clamp plates 24 and26, the lower plate 24 has two inwardly opening recesses 58 and 66formed therein by punching, whereby lugs rise from the outer surface ofthe clamp plate 24 near the ends of the legs thereof.

Since there are similar recesses provided in the sides of the outerplate 26, the lugs are arranged to be fitted therein thereby releasablyclamping the plates 24 and 25 together, the lugs and recessesconstituting a partof the tongue-groove assembly to prevent the plates24 and 26 from' slidingoi eachother. y Y Y Having `described theinvention, whatl is claimed asnew is: l

1. In a vehicle antieskid device, the combination of a tire chain andholder for the chain, said holder comprising -a rst plate fastened toone end of said chain and being substantially U- shaped to t over a partof the tread and side walls of a tire, a second platezof spring materialwhich is substantially U-shaped and removably engaging 'said iirstplater and holding said first plate `nested therewith, and meansfastening the opposite end of said chain to said second iplate,

said plates having tongues and grooves intertted with each other toprevent relative sliding movement of said plates.

2. The combination of `claim 1 and lat least one of said tonguesextending longitudinally of said second plate and rising from the outersurface thereof to constitute a traction element.

3. In a vehicle anti-skiddevice, the combination of a tire chain andholder -fo'r the chain, said holder comprising'a ir'st plate fastened toone end of said chain and being substantially U shaped to rit over apartof the treadr andside walls ofa tire, a second plateof spring.material which is substantially U-shaped and removably` engaging saidfirstplate and holding 4said first -plate nestedftherewith, and meansfastening the opposite endofV said chain 'to said second plate includinga pair of brackets Secured Ato said second plate, each bracket having a,plurality of links carried thereby 'to provide adjustment,

4 and said opposite end of said chain ybeing removably connected with aselected link of said plurality of links.

4. In a vehicle anti-skid device, the combination of a tire chain andholder for the chain, said holder comprising a first plate fastened toone end of said chain and being substantially U-shaped to t over a partof the tread and side walls of a tire, a second plate of spring materialwhich is substantially U-shaped and removably engaging said iirst plateand holding said first plate nested therewith, and means fastening theopposite end of said chain to said second plate including a pair ofbrackets secured to said secnd plate, each bracket having a plurality oflinks carried thereby to provide adjustment, and said opposite end ofsaid chain being removably connected'with a selected link of saidplurality of links, said plates being provided with tongues and groovesinteriitted with each other t0 prevent sliding movement of said platesrelative to each other.

5. In a vehicle anti-skid'device, thev combination oi atire chain andholder for the chain, said holder comprising a iirstplate fastened to.one end of said chain and beingsubstantially U- shaped to fit over apart of -the tread and side walls of a tire, a second plateof springmaterial which is substantially U-shaped and removably engaging saidiirst plate and holding said first' plate nested therewith,'and meansfastening the opposite end of said chain to said second plate includinga pair of brackets Ysecured to said sec-y ond plate, each bracket havinga plurality'of links carried thereby to provide adjustment, and saidopposite end of said chain being removably connected with a selectedlink of said plurality of links',said plates being provided with tonguesand grooves interiitted with each other to prevent sliding movement ofsaid plates relative to eachv other, and at least one ofsaid tonguesrising from the outer surface ofSaid second platey tov constitute atraction element.

4 HENRY B. HUGHES,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in 'the fileOfthis patent: i Y i UNrrED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,661,707Small Marp, 1928 2,478,335 Stark .Aug. 9, 1949. 2,484,714 Kapp Oct. `11,1949v

